Serena Williams discussed the harrowing complications she suffered during ― and after ― the birth of her daughter, Alexis Olympia, in a revealing new interview for Vogue’s February issue.
Williams said her pregnancy was relatively easy, but the complications began when her daughter was born via C-section after her heart rate dropped. The next day the tennis great, who has a history of blood clots, told doctors she was having a pulmonary embolism (blockage that occurs in the lungs, usually due to blood clots). Sure enough, CT scans showed blood clots in her lungs and she began treatment.
The health scares didn’t stop there. Over the next few days, Williams was back in surgery after one of her C-section scars popped open after she experienced coughing spells. Doctors found a hematoma in her abdomen, and she returned to the operating table for one more procedure to prevent clotting.